Narendra Modi's planned rally at Kanpur has sparked a cycle of flip-flopping by the local administration

The Akhilesh Yadav government's secularist views appear to be more window dressing than an honest attempt to contain the rising clout of BJP's PM nominee Narendra Modi in Uttar Pradesh.

The SP government, which has repeatedly given approval to the BJP for Modi's Kanpur rally only to withdraw it later, has come under attack from critics who claim this is an attempt by the SP to sail through the 2014 Lok Sabha elections by playing polarisation politics.

The venue for Modi's Kanpur rally, which is scheduled for October 19, is still undecided. The Kanpur administration had initially given its in-principle nod to the BJP for holding the rally at Nirala Nagar Ground, but later it was denied.

The administration suggested the BJP
hold the rally at Phulbagh ground, where several massive rallies were
held in the past. It then revoked permission later, stating that the
ground is too small to hold huge rallies. It said a large number of
Modi's supporters would spill over to the roads, creating traffic jams.

The administration had also put forward a solution - holding the rally
in the open space at Indira Nagar. But it has since backtracked again
after some groups opposed the plan, saying their agricultural land would
get spoiled.

The authorities' repeated denials to the rally evoked sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Cutting across party lines, leaders alleged that it was the SP government's apparent decision to gain political leverage out of creating controversies and lure Muslims in the run-up to 2014 elections.

"Kanpur's Phulbagh is always known for big rallies. Clearly, it is the SP's attempt to create a controversy which will also benefit the BJP, particularly Modi," Amar Nath, UP Congress spokesperson said.

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Muslim leaders like Maqsood-al- Hasan Qasmi of the All India Imam Council also took exception to the SP government's decision.

"The Muslims voted for the SP in the 2012 Assembly polls, but how many Muslims did secure jobs in the past 18 months? The communal riots plotted by the SP and the BJP in Muzaffarnagar have opened our eyes. Preventing Modi's rally is the SP's attempt to cook up a row."

Reacting to the criticism, State Horticulture Minister Shiv Pratap Yadav made the government's stance clearer.

"Modi can give a controversial statement to create an upheaval in Uttar Pradesh. We should prevent him from vitiating the atmosphere," he said.